HOUSTON – Houston police, the FBI and ICE arrested four dangerous men along the busy feeder road of the Katy Freeway in front of Memorial City Mall.

“The men are from Mara-Salvatrucha. This is a Central American gang that has come into the U.S. It is taking over different cities,” said an undercover special agent from Houston’s FBI.

Mara Salvatrucha is also known as MS-13, and they are one of the most violent gangs in the United States.

In Houston, authorities say there are up to 15 groups of MS-13 members committing violent crimes. But thanks to two brave women, one of these cells is no longer in business.

The women worked at a beauty salon near Fondren and Westheimer. They say that last month, MS-13 gang members held them up. Then they took their money, stole their property, and raped one of the victims.

But before the gunmen left, the gang members told the women their salon would have to pay $100 a week for protection.

According to the undercover FBI agent, this is what worries law enforcement the most.

“Once they come over, they get a hold of some of these businesses and they start receiving additional income. Then, the groups start getting stronger and they bring more people into the group,” said the special agent.

A week later, the MS-13 group returned to the salon to collect their extortion money, but the women locked the doors. Police say the gang members retaliated by driving by and opening fire.

“It took us about two weeks to crack group. We kept on them,” said the special agent.

In all, seven people, including a 15-year-old boy, have been taken into custody.

During the arrest, the task force found guns, ammunition, a machete and written plans to conduct another robbery.

Law enforcement agencies say these MS-13 cells often target businesses that may not always be entirely on the what they call the "up-and-up," such as game rooms.

“There could be countless crimes that have not been reported because they are afraid to go to the police,” said the special agent.

The task force says if the two women at the salon hadn't spoken up, the MS-13 cell would be planning its next attack.

A few years ago these slime slugs killed a baby in Huffman. MS 13 in Houston I'm sorry to say is not new. Good on the HPD for keeping after them.

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Wow, another agreement. :happy0001:

You'd be surprised at the things that are going on that you don't hear about. When the media breaks something like this isn't usually already old news but they spin it as new a breaking. They have to, it's the code of media to gain viewers and sell advertising. Sometimes it LE that makes sure it gets to the media as part of their operation.

I grew up in Houston and still have family there and I hate to say, I just don't like going back that much. I'm amazed at how so much of Houston feels like a 3rd world country. And everyone in my family live in nice areas, gated etc. It's just all around.

We used to hang out in Memorial City in High School drinking Lowenbrau from Dairy Queen cups before heading out to cruise Westheimer, Long Point hit the clubs etc. Things have really changed in the last 30 years......

Have you been on Long Point in the last 5 years or so? Long Point looks like Matamoros!

Yes, this city is going to the dogs. The only decent neighborhoods are eiher way out in the sticks or the uppidy areas with houses that start around 400 grand and go way up from there (West U., Bellaire, Heights, etc.).

I hate this city and the only reason I am here is because I work in the pertochemical biz and can make money. As soon as we can retire and leave...you bet we're leaving!

Houston is one congested, spray painted, third world mess...but so are all larger Texas cities. San Antonio, Austin and Dallas are not any better, really.

Have you been on Long Point in the last 5 years or so? Long Point looks like Matamoros!

Yes, this city is going to the dogs. The only decent neighborhoods are eiher way out in the sticks or the uppidy areas with houses that start around 400 grand and go way up from there (West U., Bellaire, Heights, etc.).

I hate this city and the only reason I am here is because I work in the pertochemical biz and can make money. As soon as we can retire and leave...you bet we're leaving!

Houston is one congested, spray painted, third world mess...but so are all larger Texas cities. San Antonio, Austin and Dallas are not any better, really.

- brickboy240

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It's even come to the point where you have to keep your doors and windows locked these days.